Webpack version 4.41.4 represents a minor update from the preceding stable version, 4.41.3. While the core functionalities and dependencies remain largely consistent between the two releases, developers should be aware of subtle refinements and potential bug fixes incorporated in the newer iteration. Both versions serve as powerful module bundlers, enabling developers to efficiently package JavaScript, CSS, and other assets for browser-based applications.
A key area to consider when upgrading to version 4.41.4 lies in its potential impact on build processes and dependency resolution. Although the dependency lists are identical, internal optimizations or minor adjustments to the bundling algorithms could influence build performance or output. Developers are advised to conduct thorough testing after updating to ensure compatibility and identify any unexpected behavior. The 'dist' section shows a slight increase in 'unpackedSize' which may indicate minor changes in the bundled code.
The release date also provides context. Version 4.41.4 came out just a few days after 4.41.3. The quick turnaround often suggests a focused effort on addressing specific issues or incorporating urgent fixes identified in the earlier release. Developers experiencing problems with version 4.41.3 should explore the possibility that 4.41.4 resolves those concerns. While a detailed changelog is crucial for pinpointing exact modifications, developers should consider these refinements as a standard aspect of software maintenance and iterative enhancements.
All the vulnerabilities related to the version 4.41.4 of the package
Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) in micromatch
The NPM package micromatch prior to version 4.0.8 is vulnerable to Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS). The vulnerability occurs in micromatch.braces() in index.js because the pattern .* will greedily match anything. By passing a malicious payload, the pattern matching will keep backtracking to the input while it doesn't find the closing bracket. As the input size increases, the consumption time will also increase until it causes the application to hang or slow down. There was a merged fix but further testing shows the issue persisted prior to https://github.com/micromatch/micromatch/pull/266. This issue should be mitigated by using a safe pattern that won't start backtracking the regular expression due to greedy matching.
Uncontrolled resource consumption in braces
The NPM package braces fails to limit the number of characters it can handle, which could lead to Memory Exhaustion. In lib/parse.js, if a malicious user sends "imbalanced braces" as input, the parsing will enter a loop, which will cause the program to start allocating heap memory without freeing it at any moment of the loop. Eventually, the JavaScript heap limit is reached, and the program will crash.
